Death Certificate

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This is the article about Ice Cube's album.
For the document concerning a person's death, see Death certificate.
Death Certificate
Death Certificate cover
Studio album by Ice Cube
Released October 29, 1991
Recorded 1991
Genre Hip-Hop, Political Rap
Length 61:08
Label Priority
Producer(s) Da Lench Mob
Professional reviews
Ice Cube chronology
Kill at Will
(1991)		 Death Certificate
(1991)		 The Predator
(1992)


Death Certificate is the critically acclaimed second solo album from rapper Ice Cube, released on October 29, 1991. Comprised of two sides, The "Death Side" was a critique on the current state of the black community in America, while The "Life Side" which followed it was an instruction on the direction needed to pull said community out of the mire of violence and economic ruin depicted on the Death side.

The album garnered critical acclaim and controversy in equal amounts for powerful and evocative songs. "Us," perhaps the album's most insightful track, explains Ice Cube's stance on what the African-American race must do to reach the "Life Side." The evocative "Bird in the Hand" is a track sympathetic with the plight of the minimum wage worker, teenage parent, and inner city drug pusher and critical of figureheads ranging from George H. W. Bush to Jesse Jackson. "Horny Lil' Devil" is a fiercesome attack on white men who sexually harass and objectify black women, while "Black Korea" is a controversial track that attacks Korean store owners who are constantly suspicious of their black customers. The track "Look Who's Burnin'" tells of the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases in low income neighborhoods, while "Alive on Arrival" tells the story of a young man caught in the crossfire of a gang shooting who slowly bleeds to death while waiting in the slow hospital waiting room. "Color Blind" preaches neutrality and brotherhood between gangs, such as the Bloods and Crips. The album is also famous for the bonus track "No Vaseline," a vicious "diss track" aimed at Ice Cube's former N.W.A bandmates.

Due to fear that laws against racial incitement in Europe could see the album banned, the European release deleted the tracks Black Korea and No Vaseline. In 2003, Priority Records re-released Death Certificate with one bonus track, "How to Survive in South Central", originally appearing on the Boyz N the Hood soundtrack. The album spawned the chart single and music video Steady Mobbin'.

In the September 2006 issue of FHM, Ice Cube stated in an interview that he did not regret the controversial statements made on the album. Regarding the offence caused to Koreans, he said, "If there's still a problem, it's their problem."

Contents

[edit] Track listing

The Death Side

  1. The Funeral
  2. The Wrong Nigga To Fuck Wit
  3. My Summer Vacation
  4. Steady Mobbin'
  5. Robin Lench
  6. Givin' Up The Nappy Dug Out
  7. Look Who's Burnin'
  8. A Bird In The Hand
  9. Man's Best Friend
  10. Alive On Arrival
  11. The Death

The Life Side

12. "The Birth"
13. "I Wanna Kill Sam"
14. "Horny Lil' Devil"
15. "Black Korea"
16. "True To The Game"
17. "Color Blind"
18. "Doing Dumb Shit"
19. "Us"
20. "No Vaseline"

  • 2003 bonus track:

21. "How to Survive in South Central"


[edit] Partial List of Samples

The following lists some songs and sounds sampled for Death Certificate.

Wrong Nigga to Fuck Wit

My Summer Vacation

Steady Mobbin'

  • "Deep" by Parliament
  • "Love Amnesia" by Parlet
  • "After the Dance" by Marvin Gaye
  • "Reach Out" by Average White Band
  • "Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk (Pay Attention- B3M)" & "Theme From The Black Hole" by Parliament

Givin' Up the Nappy Dug Out

Look Who's Burnin'

A Bird in the Hand

Man's Best Friend

  • "Flashlight" by Parliament
  • "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton

Alive on Arrival

  • "The Big Bang Theory" by Parliament
  • "Hot (I Need to Be Love, Love Loved)" by James Brown

The Death

  • "A Funky Song" by Ripple

The Birth

I Wanna Kill Sam

Horny Lil' Devil

True to the Game

  • "Reach for It" by George Duke
  • "Outstanding" by The Gap Band
  • "You Can Make it if You Try" by Sly & the Family Stone

Color Blind

Doing Dumb Shit

Us

  • "Gamin' on Ya!" by Parliament
  • "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss

No Vaseline

How To Survive In South Central

[edit] Album singles

Single cover Single information
"Steady Mobbin'"
"True To The Game"

[edit] Album Chart Positions

Year Album Chart positions
Billboard 200 Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1991 Death Certificate #2 #1

[edit] Singles Chart Positions

Year Song Chart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles
1991 "Steady Mobbin'" - #30 #3

[edit] Miscellanea

  • As a result of the controversy over Death Certificate, in 1992 the state of Oregon declared any display of Ice Cube's image in retail stores throughout the state illegal. This ban also included advertisements for St. Ides Malt Liquor, which Ice Cube endorsed at the time.
  • On the hook of The Game's song "The Documentary", off his album of the same name, Game lists some of rap's most legendary albums, mentioning Death Certificate.

[edit] External links

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